Are breadboard ends necessary for a table?

Please note that breadboards are NEVER necessary. A properly-milled and constructed panel should generally stay flat under normal conditions, so the only time I add a breadboard end is if I think the design benefits from it visually. Learn to make nice flat panels here.

What is the purpose of breadboard ends?

The breadboard ends are essentially rails that are mortised to accept tenons on the ends of the panel. They serve the same basic purpose as cleats screwed to the inside face of solid wood panels on rustic furniture, except that breadboard end joints are a lot more elegant and forgiving of wood movement.

Can you pocket hole breadboard ends?

That means that the pocket hole at the outside edges must allow for up to 1/4″ of movement in the hole in the breadboard, which is a lot. Note that the breadboard edges must be long enough to absorb this width expansion.

How wide should breadboard ends be?

The breadboard ends are usually 2″ to 3″ wide, but you can make them wider or narrower for larger or smaller panels, if you wish. In either case, make the mortise depth about two-thirds the width of the end piece.

Can you use dowels for breadboard ends?

Dowels are acceptable, but they provide limited hold and completely restrict wood movement. The vast majority of the surface-to-surface contact when using dowels is a butt joint; the long grain of the breadboard end mates to the end grain of the primary board.

How wide should a breadboard end be?

What are breadboard ends on a table?

A breadboard end is a piece of wood that’s joined to the end of a larger panel. Breadboard ends are the strips that are often found on the ends of some Amish tables. They run perpendicular to the larger panel and contribute to defining the form of the table panel.

How do you make a tongue and groove table top?

Form a 1⁄16 ” bevel on all edges of the top and ends. Glue the middle one-third of the tongue. Drive in the dowels, gluing the end ones at the top. Cut and sand them flush. For more related content, subscribe to our newsletter!

How is a breadboard attached to a wood table top?

The breadboard is held to the panel via a simple 1/2″ tongue and groove joint. Screws are driven in from the edge into the end grain of the table top. The outer screw holes in the breadboard are slotted to allow for movement and the tongue on the panel has some material removed at each screw location.

How do you mortise a tongue and groove panel?

In either case, make the mortise depth about two-thirds the width of the end piece. Cut the tongue on the panel about 1⁄4 ” narrower than the length of the mortise in the end piece, and drill the dowel holes through the approximate middle of the tongue length.

Why do Breadboards have an end?

As the table top expands and contracts with seasonal humidity across its width, the breadboard fights that movement. Tension builds up and eventually the top will crack. The breadboard may also begin to pull away from the table creating unsightly gaps. So the real magic of a breadboard end happens when you allow for that seasonable movement.